All Riley County businesses and employers will be required to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Interim Guidance responding to COVID-19.
The Riley County Health Department’s Order No. 15 goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on July 30. A summary of the guidance can be found on the CDC’s guidance web page. It includes strategies and recommendations such as conducting daily health checks, conducting a hazard assessment of the workplace, encouraging employees to wear cloth face masks in the workplace, if appropriate, implementing policies and practices for social distancing in the workplace and improving the building ventilation system.
According to the CDC’s employee health screening form, employees should notify their employer if they have any two or more of the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
A temperature of 100.4 is an automatic “leave work.”
Order No. 15 keeps the same restrictions in place for bars and restaurants, which includes closing by midnight and screening each employee prior to their shift. Gatherings are still capped at 50 and large venues of 2,000 or more capacity remain closed.
As of late Friday, the health department said three positive patients and two persons under investigation were being monitored at Ascension Via Christi. Earlier in the day, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified an outbreak at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community. A total of eight staff members and residents have tested positive.
“Local data will continue to determine the actions needed in Riley County,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “The rate of new positive cases has begun to slow, and we are watching the outbreak situation at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community very closely. If additional restrictions are needed to protect the community and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, we will issue a new order before July 30.”
Any person found in violation of any provision of this health order is subject, upon conviction of a fine up to $100 for each offense.
